Hi everyone,

Just wanted to post about my progress, I have made 3 trips to So Cal since Aug 2012 from Northern Cal to see Dr. Art Ando and Dr. James Sposa of Ando and Aston. And I am feeling much better.

I had scar tissue issues on my brachial plexus 10 months after having a scalenectomy 2010, I started my PT with Peter Edgelow and was stuck in a limited part of his core breathing program. Even though even that limited part of his program was the the only thing that brought a little relief along with neurontin/ Gabapentin and regular cardio.
I couldn't sleep for 3 years on my sides at all. I will not list all the can't do's as I had a long list (most of us have the same can't do's). I scheduled my appointments to see a surgeon for first rib removal.

On this forum's advice...

I began my progress here in the Bay area with myofascial release from a local therapist( not a TOS specialist) but she had a functional approach and started to think of how she could bring my functions back one by one. Finally I started sleeping for a little time on my sides and could start doing a little bit of everything that I couldn't do.
I cancelled my appointments to see the surgeon.
I was still struggling with upper chest( pect minor tightness) and scalene pain and elbow pain. My therapist told me " The road to good health is not straight"

Through this forum, I found Ando and Aston in Anaheim hills who also have a functional approach. I am now being able to sleep for longer periods on my sides, as they have been able to do some rib work and mobilising my pect minor area among other things and also taught me to self massage my side of the rib cage with a soft foam roller and self massage the under arm as well as the entire arm with a pinkie ball and my elbow pain is much better as well, not all gone yet, but much better.

I am now able to progress in Peter Edgelow's diaphramatic breathing protocol. I am able to do the full range of the core program and have progressed to some parts of the 3'' roller and exercise ball program.

I am now beginning to see a therapist who is a specialist in PNF now in the Bay area to help me with nerve mobilization and see if this helps to get rid of the elbow pain totally and also help me with bringing some strength back to my left arm and hand that has still some weakness left .

The road to good health is really not straight. Good luck to all of you and thank you for guiding me in the right direction, I can't thank you enough.

That is wonderful & exciting, keep up the good work and progress.


It is so amazing when those nasty tissue adhiesons & restrictions can be worked on and changed. And resolve so many of the problems they can cause.

That is wonderful news! Kudos to you. I got in touch with Dr. Ando, and he suggested I come to CA for a diagnosis - but that is not an option living in VA. I have just started PT and am having unbearable flare-ups. You guys who live in CA surely are blessed with experienced TOS physical therapist. So happy you are seeing such progress

Great News! I too have gotten much better but not completely. Typing definatley brings on the nerve pain! I think I am going to order the Edgelow protocol as I have been seeing a chiro who does some similar breathing techniques i.e . using a blood pressure cuff to strengthen the neck muscles. I would like to do more on the soft roller and exercise ball.

That's wonderful news. Kudos to you too!

Stos2:

Even though you've had surgery, I'm so happy you are able to avoid future ones by conservative therapy. Keep up the good work and the road resembles more of Lombard Street with a lot of dead end alleys, road construction detours and road rage drivers trying to swerve you off track. There can't be a more truer quote.

That's great news jkl626, I am so touched that things are getting better for you,
keep going , I know how much work you have put in to your journey, Good luck from my heart that things just get better and better for you. Keep positive and keep going.

Anne, the quote is so perfect, you are so right it couldn't have been truer!

As I haven't mentioned the visits to a plastic surgeon ( referred to by my doctor in hope of a surgical resolve) who gave me these steroid shots near my surgery sight and probably injected a nerve and disabled and weakened my entire left arm for months and all the tears and frustration I have not written about. After all that, he felt I might be a good candidate for cubital tunnel nerve transposition surgery or refer me to someone for a brachial plexus neurolysis. At that point I had to get off Lombard street and find my own back road to my recovery.

Thanks Jo Mar!

Even though in my case scalenectomy was necessary because I had Bilateral Arterial TOS . But then you think that how can more surgery resolve those nasty adhesions and restrictions because it will only give you possibly more scar tissue!
The only way to get rid of those would be physical therapy and as Dr.Art Ando mentioned the older the stuff the longer it takes so you just have to keep working at it and not give up.